Hikers and backpackers should be advised that Taft Lodge, on Mount Mansfield, will be closed for repairs beginning September 8. GMC technicians will be replacing rotting sill logs on the 105-year-old structure, the oldest, largest, and second-highest overnight site on the Long Trail.
There is no tenting or hammocking permitted outside Taft Lodge or anywhere above 2,500’, which includes much of the Mount Mansfield area. Hikers should plan to stay at the following sites:
- Butler Lodge (3.5 miles south, no overflow tenting or hammocking capacity)
- Twin Brooks Tenting Area (4.7 miles south, adequate overflow tenting capacity)
- Sterling Pond Shelter (5.9 miles north, ample overflow tenting)
Keep in mind that all overnight sites on the Long Trail are first-come, first-served and may fill to capacity during the busy fall hiking season. Please be flexible and plan your hike itineraries accordingly. Use the Long Trail Guide or Long Trail Map to plan your trip.